Title: A Little Earlier
Author's Notes on Revision:
Thanks for finding that misspelling of Saotome. I'd also like to thank
Cherry Tiger for his very helpful comments. The Lurker's comments, dispite
their tone where also enlightening. No Lurker, Marrissa won't show up ...
unless you write that Marrissa vs DJ fic, in which case... your doorstep,
not mine.
In regards to MacArthur Junior High, as suggested by one reader, this is
an old school built back during the late 40s, named after the famous
General. It has just finished being converted to a junior high. I need
the name for a later part.
On Kasumi's cooking, I expect that while four years later, Kasumi is
considered an excellent cook (especially in comparison to Akane) she didn't
start out that way. Her meals probably were rather simple at first and
limited in variety. I am currently looking for some more complex items for
Kasumi to make attempts at cooking, with some slight failures. (That
cherry pie will be replaced in Akane's lunch unexpectedly)
Part 2 is almost ready, but I wanted to send out this revision first.
I'll come back to this part again after 2 is done.
Eventally there will be a prologue to this work, but after six years
writing Trek Fan-Fiction, I've learnt not to write that until last. It
turns out a lot better that way (at least the way I write).
--------
Part 1: Akane meet Ranma
Today was Akane Tendo's first day of seventh grade, and first day at
MacArthur. MacArthur Junior High was a remodeled former high school, which
was just reopening to solve a crowding problem. It was an unsettling day.
Before when she went to a new school Nabiki and Kasumi had been there
before her. They would be able to put her fears at ease. This was also
the first year she had started without her mother's special lunch and trip
to the store for new clothes.
A tear rolled down Akane's cheek as she looked down at her red and blue
school uniform.
"Some �ing wrong?" a boy Akane's age asked.
"Just thinking about my mother," Akane said. "And I can't find room 204."
"That's because you're on the third floor," the boy said. "Come with me,
that's where I'm headed. I'm Ranma Saotome."
"Akane Tendo. You're in class 7-D too?"
"Yeah, and I'm really going to have to do lots of catch up work," Ranma
said. "My dad and I just got back from a two year long martial arts
training trip."
"That must have been fun. I'm a martial artist too, but my Father would
never do that," Akane said as they entered the stairway.
"Not all of it's fun. Dad has some strange ideas about training. What
style do you do?"
"A small school of Unrestricted Martial Arts. Dad says that we are one of
two families that practice it."
"I guess I must be from the other," Ranma said.
"Can we spar sometime?" Akane asked, as they reached the top of the
stairs. She really needed someone to practice against. Nabiki was
beginning to complain that Akane was taking out too many practice dummies
and venting her anger out on too many bricks. Plus, a real partner was
always better. "Dad hasn't been up to much practice lately." That had been
an understatement. If Dad spent a hour not crying it would be miracle.
"Sure, if you'll help me with my homework sometime," Ranma said.
"We can work on it together," Akane smiled.
Akane was seated by her sister Nabiki in the cafeteria. Today's lunch
didn't look very appetizing. Apparently Kasumi needed a little more help in
the kitchen. A look over at Nabiki's revealed that Nabiki hadn't noticed,
but then she was too busy trying to get in on the new school's rumor
market. Sometimes Akane wished she could do something for the family.
Kasumi cooked, Nabiki handled the money. That just left Akane to carry on
the family martial arts tradition, and that didn't seem like much.
"Is this seat taken?" Akane looked up. It was Ranma.
"Go ahead, Ranma," Akane said, as she tore off the burnt edge of her bread.
"Is there a problem with your lunch?" Ranma asked.
"My oldest sister made it. I think she needs some help," Akane said,
before taking a tiny bite. "It doesn't taste bad, but it's looks leave
something to be desired."
"At least you have someone to make your lunch," Ranma said. "I had to
make my own this morning."
"I rather if my mom could make it again," Akane said sadly. She missed
the special touches that her mother had always put into her lunch. The
letter A carefully cut into the sandwich, letting Akane know her mom had
mad it just for her. The special desert made just for her, always
different from what her sisters got. Akane felt a tear begin it's journey
down her cheek.
"Don't cry Akane," Ranma said. "I hate it when a girl cries."
"I'm sorry. Things just keep reminding me of my mom. It's been almost a
year since she died. You would think I'd be over it by now."
"I didn't know." They ate in silence for a while.
"Yuk, cherry pie," Akane said, opening her dessert container.
"What's wrong with cherry pie?" Ranma asked.
"Nothing, but Kasumi keeps making it," Akane said. "I think it's the only
dessert she knows. After a year, I'm tired of it."
"Trade you for this packaged chocolate pudding?" Ranma said. "Homemade
cherry pie has to be better than the packaged stuff Dad buys."
"Okay," Akane said as the exchange was made. "Mmmmm chocolate."
"Chocolate, where did you get chocolate?" Nabiki said, suddenly turning
toward her sister. "I didn't get chocolate pudding?"
"I traded for it Nabiki-chan," Akane said. "Surely a deal maker like
yourself find a similar deal."
"Who is your friend?" Nabiki said.
"This is Ranma Saotome, Ranma, my sister Nabiki, the ice queen," Akane
said. She couldn't resist adding the last comment. After all, as a little
sister she was suppose to tease her older sisters.
"Akane, I thought I told you to never call me that," Nabiki said. "A
pleasure to met you, Saotome. Do you have another one of those puddings?"
"I gave my only one to Akane," Ranma said. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Darn," Nabiki said. "I guess I'll have to get to you earlier tomorrow."
"Not likely," Akane said. "He's in my class."
Akane looked up at Ranma. He was following her on the fence. They had
agreed to spar after school. He had really challenged their teachers. She
especially liked his challenge of "what goes up must come down" in science.
She suspected that the Sensei was beginning to regret his first lecture on
the importance of asking questions.
"Ranma, why are you walking on the fence?" Akane finally asked.
"Dad's training, it teaches balance," Ranma said. "One of Dad's saner
ideas. You should try it some time. It works."
"I'm not trying it in this skirt," Akane said. "Does your Dad train you a
lot?"
"I think Dad believes that his life's work is training me," Ranma said.
"He makes everything training. Fortunately he's got to work two jobs right
now so he can get enough money to go on the next training trip, so I get to
spend a year actually going to school and learning something else other
than martial arts."
"I thought you liked studying martial arts," Akane said.
"Yeah, I want to be the greatest martial artist of my generation," Ranma
said. "But it's like you and cherry pie. After a while you want something
else for desert. I want to learn about more than just martial arts, at
least for a while."
Akane and Ranma entered the Tendo home. "I'm home!" Akane shouted. As
she did, she silently prayed that her dad wouldn't break down crying and
embarrass her in front of her new friend.
Soun Tendo entered from the garden. "Welcome home Akane," he said. "Who
is your friend?"
"This is Ranma Saotome," Akane said. So far so good. "I asked him if he
would come home and spar with me. Excuse me for a moment, Ranma, I've got
to change into my gi."
"So your name is Ranma Saotome," Soun began. "Any relation to Genma
Saotome."
Ranma gulped. This was not a good question to hear in his experience.
Still he wasn't going to lie. "He's my father."
"Your father and I studied under the same teacher," Soun said. "It's been
so long since I saw him last. It must have been shortly before my wife had
Akane... Oh why did she have to leave me..." Soun broke out in sobs. It
took five minutes for Akane to change. Ranma suffered though Soun's
sobbing the whole time.
"Not again," Akane said, coming down the stairs in her gi. She had had so
high of hopes.
"I'll take care of father," Nabiki said, as she entered the house.
"Kasumi should be home in a half-hour. You can go spar with your friend.
Try not to go too hard on the Dojo"
Ranma relaxed in the furo. Akane had been a good sparring partner. She
was a little rusty, but she acknowledged that. Akane also didn't like to
lose. That was a problem, but with a little work, he could see Akane
making the matches truly even. She had thrown him, and only his father had
managed to do that recently. Of course pops was too tired to spar after
work lately, which was why Ranma was glad he'd found Akane. It was time to
get up though. Ranma stood and reached for his towel.
It was then that Akane opened the door. She was also in a state of
undress. She noticed Ranma, and blushed. "Excuse me," she said, backing
away.
Ranma covered himself and moved to the door. Trying to sound indifferent,
he said, "The bath is yours, Akane."
Akane retreated into the bathroom, as Ranma entered the changing room.
As he put his clothes on, he murmured, "she's cute."
--------
I hope this was an improvement.
Stephen Ratliff.
--
Stephen Ratliff
FAQ & Index Maintainer for Alt.StarTrek.Creative
http://www.runet.edu/~sratliff/FAQs
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